Global Viewpoints
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GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS Paris concepts From potential production to flight of fancy, the European automakers proudly showed their most inventive designs. by Stuart Birch, European Editor Porsche unwraps its secret supercar Porsche revealed its best kept secret on (a mix of nickel and silicon) layer on with its integrated spring/damper the first day of the Paris Motor Show: the surface, while also helping to units. The spring/damper units on the the V10-engined Carrera GT. Accord- make the crankcase stronger and more rear axle are actuated by pivot levers ing to the company, only a small step stable. A further advantage is offered and pushrods, allowing an aerody- remains to series production. That by enhanced cooling, the cylinders namic configuration of the engine and could mean the Carrera GT being surrounded transmission unit. might be manufac- Carbon fiber is used extensively in tured in 2003 as a the Carrera GT for both bodywork and body structure. Steel structural ele- ments are used to attain optimum crash behavior. The car has a spaceframe made of high-strength alu- minum profiles. The styling includes enormous air scoops behind the trail- ing edges of the doors and a prominent rear wing. Great attention was paid to underfloor design, which is smooth high-priced, limited series. Porsche de- Porsche’s concept Carrera GT is a blend of racing and road-going forms scribes its styling as “extravagant,” and is scheduled for with the aim of blending racing and production in 2003. road-going forms. The last time Porsche showed a pro- duction-based concept was in 1993 as the forerunner of the Boxster sports car. The mid-engined Carrera GT, though, is a very different vehicle. Porsche says it is based on racing technology; this ap- plies to the chassis, the suspension, and the brakes as well as the new V10, nor- mally aspirated power unit and the six- speed manual gearbox with a motor rac- ing clutch. As in motorsports, the driv- etrain and suspension form one unit, with the spring struts of the rear axle pivoting on the gearbox. The 5.5-L engine develops 410 kW directly by coolant. The engine uses with a rear diffuser. Length of the (558 hp) and is said to provide a top titanium connecting rods. Small diam- Carrera GT is 4570 mm (180 in); its speed of 330 km/h (205 mph) with 0- eter clutch plates allow the crankshaft width is 1920 mm (75.6 in), and its 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in to be fitted as low as possible and offer height is 1220 m (48 in). It has a wheel- less than 4 s. Maximum torque is a contribution to reducing the base of 2.7 m (8.6 ft), and its mass is quoted as at least 600 N•m (442 lb•ft). Carrera’s center of gravity. Dry sump about 1250 kg (2755 lb). The forged The engine will rev to more than 8000 lubrication is a further aid to this aim, magnesium rims on the front wheels rpm and uses light alloys. The crank- with a separate oil tank positioned in are 265/30 R 19 and in the rear are 335/ case and the cylinder heads use a spe- the transmission housing. 30 R 20. Its ceramic brake discs are 380 cial high-temperature-resistant light The transmission housing also pro- mm (15 in). Aluminum and leather are alloy. To keep the engine as short and vides the pivot points for the rear the dominant materials used for the compact as possible, the designers double-wishbone axle, with indi- car’s interior. The seats include knee have done without the usual inte- vidual adjustment of the wheel and leg supports that are in place when grated cylinder liners. The cylinders springs and anti-roll bars, such as that the car is being driven but fold away instead feature a low-friction Nikasil on the front double-wishbone axle for entry and egress. 10 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS Steppin’ out with Audi’s Steppenwolf Making its premiere at the Paris Motor Show was the tough- looking Audi Steppenwolf concept. The car is more than a step beyond the Audi allroad and is described as a high- performance all-rounder compact class for on-road and de- manding off-road use. A three-door, four-seater, it has Audi’s quattro four-wheel drive with a Haldex clutch distributing power to front and rear wheels. The Steppenwolf has height-adjustable air suspension, with four levels over a 60-mm (2.4-in) adjustment range. Ground clearance is up to 223 mm (8.8 in). There are two control strategies for the suspension—automatic and The Steppenwolf’s innovative spare wheel carrier is a drawer under the luggage compartment. The Audi Steppenwolf concept is a high-performance compact for on- and off-road use. SEAT, also part of the VW Group, displayed its Salsa Emocion concept, a multi-function car with air suspension that is powered by a 2.8-L V6 engine mated with a Tiptronic transmission. manual. The automatic setting is speed dependent. At speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph) and 130 km/h (80 mph), respec- tively, the system lowers the body in two 20-mm (0.8-in) stages, rising again as speed decreases. The highest level must be selected manually but lowers at speeds above 35 km/h (22 mph). An electrohydraulic system operates the park brake. The engine is a 3.2-L V6 developing 165 kW (225 hp). The Steppenwolf is based on the Audi A3/TT platform. Overall length is 4190 mm (165 in). The body is 1830 mm (72 in) wide and 1365 mm (54 in) high. The Steppenwolf has been designed to take a soft top or detachable hardtop. A drawer The interior of the Audi Steppenwolf is a mix of metal beneath the luggage compartment houses the spare wheel. and leather. The car’s interior is a mix of metal and leather. 12 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 Nissan Fusion The styling of Nissan’s popular family cars can be conserva- Nissan has worked to give the concept a sense of integration tive. But making its world debut at the Paris Motor Show was between the front air intake, hood, and windshield. The the European-styled Nissan Fusion concept, a four-door fenders join with the bumpers across a short cut line. mid-size sedan that Nissan says indicates a new approach in The Fusion was styled at Nissan Design Europe’s facility its design capabilities and gives a hint of future styling and includes unusual aspects for a car in this sector, includ- trends. Its designers were told to integrate Western tastes ing television cameras installed at the base of the A-pillars with traditional Japanese roots, “interpreted in a modern and instead of regular rearview mirrors. They provide images even futuristic way.” Nissan describes it as a mono-silhou- to two screens at each end of the instrument binnacle. ette shape, with the traditional emphasis of sedan car design Touch-sensitive door handles are fitted. Nissan worked being almost entirely left behind and replaced with a fluid with Philips to develop fiber-optic lighting technology for and aerodynamic new profile dominated by the cabin. the car. High-power xenon generators beam light through a loom of optic fibers into a bank of 12 visible quartz rods that direct fiber ends onto precision lenses. Each lens is inclined at a different angle to merge into one light beam. Dual function fiber optics are also used for the joint tail/ brake lights. Neon turn indicators are fitted. According to Nissan, the car’s interior mixes high tech with traditional: the floor covering is called “Techno-Tatami” after the wo- ven material typically used in Japanese homes. After sun- down, the mood inside the car can be altered using a colored fiber-optic system also developed by Philips and fitted to the underside of the central roof panel. The system creates a wide range of colors, allowing the occupants to match their Nissan’s Fusion four-door concept uses fiber-optic lighting. environment with their mood. They can therefore design their own atmosphere for their own desired ambience. 14 Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS Nissan X-Trail Nissan chose the Paris Motor Show for the world debut of its X- Trail compact 4x4 con- cept. The 4x4 system uses drive-by-wire tech- nology, an Electronic Stability Program with traction control, and a new 2.0-L gasoline en- gine. X-Trail’s interior includes new types of textured, durable mate- rials. Formed aluminum is used for detail fea- tures, and what is de- scribed as a “rugged Nissan revealed its X-Trail concept at the material” lines the load Paris Motor Show. space for easy cleaning. Nissan says the concept car has been designed to demonstrate its ability to create an on-road vehicle with “real off- road ability.” Automotive Engineering International/November 2000 15 GLOBAL VIEWPOINTS BMW Z9 with the lid off BMW’s Z9 concept, already seen as a not require extensive searching. The re- by a multi-function, easy-to-use rotary coupe, was back at Paris—as a cabriolet. sult in the Z9 is the use of some conven- controller placed in the leading edge of A 2+2 seater, its aesthetics may not be to tional basic controls for the lights and the center armrest. It comes easily to everyone’s taste, but it is the car’s interior temperature settings, but many func- hand and works with a centrally tions are controlled mounted dashboard screen.